Musing

What Is It Good For?

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

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Ever since that fateful day when Cain “rose up against” his brother Abel and killed him, people have been fighting and killing each other, whether in civil disputes, acts of rage, random killings, intentional murders, terrorist attacks, war, etc., etc., etc.

The men from every generation of my immediate family have fought in a war or served his country during times of war with the exception of my husband and his identical twin brother who were declared 4-F and unfit to serve due to a pilonidal cyst; that tiny sac at the base of their spine was the only thing that kept them from being drafted and sent to Vietnam. In 1973, the military draft was abolished and has remained that way. Had it been reinstated, my sons and nephews could have been drafted to serve in the war in Afghanistan.

My great-grandfathers and my grandfathers all served in the Italian army. My father fought in the Battle of the Bulge during WWII while my husband’s father was stationed in Georgia and never left The States for his entire 4-year stint in the US Army. One of my brothers-in-law was in the Navy, a second in the Army and a third in the Marines. While they were all stationed overseas at the time (mid 60s-early 70s), none saw action. Every one of those men returned home, safe and sound. Our family was fortunate and thankful; others did not fare nearly as well.

Today in the US we are observing Memorial Day – a day of remembrance celebrated on the last Monday of May to honor and mourn those who died while serving in the US military. It began after the Civil War as a way to honor Union soldiers; over time, it evolved to encompass all American military personnel who died in any war or military action. 

I think it’s safe to say we all know or know of someone who died while serving in the military; please take a moment to remember them today.

Wishing you a beautiful Memorial Day.

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NAR©2025

This is “War” by Edwin Starr

All text and graphics are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, The Rhythm Section, et al., and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

28 thoughts on “What Is It Good For?”

  1. No matter whether you believe there are justified wars or not, I think we can all agree the men and women being sent to battle fields make extraordinary sacrifices – typically, unlike the “smart leaders” who send them there. What’s even more disgraceful is how returning veterans are oftentimes treated. Happy Memorial Day!

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    1. Too many of our veterans are overlooked and/or treated miserably. The boys returning from Vietnam were treated like dirt. It’s a disgrace. I cannot imagine what homeless, forgotten, suffering veterans must be going through thinking this is the reward they get for doing their duty and putting their lives on the line. There are so many things wrong with that picture, it makes me incredibly sad. Thank you, Christian. Enjoy your Memorial Day.

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  2. My parents were immigrants to the US, back in the 50’s. Both experienced war in a nazi-occupied country, and they honored Memorial Day in their adopted country. I’m kind of glad that they didn’t live to see where we’re headed now…

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  4. Thank you for this wonderful post. Our veterans cannot get enough recognition in my way of thinking. My grandfather, at 19, was in the second wave and survived Iwo Jima. I never knew what a miracle that was until I was in my 20’s and did some reading on my own.

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    1. My feelings and thinking exactly. It was the same for me and my dad; he never talked about the Battle of the Bulge other than to say he was there. Everything I know about it comes from research I did on my own. I learned the Americans suffered the most loss of life in the entire war during that devastating battle; it’s incredible that my dad survived. No matter how we feel about the political environment, we have raised our flag and said a prayer for those military men and women who didn’t make it. Thanks very much, Jodi.

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  5. My dad was also in the Battle of the Bulge, and I was in the draft, but they never drafted as high as my number because the Vietnam War was winding down at that time. I also have a pilonidal cyst which was popped and drained by my doctor, and this was the first time that I had to get naked in front of a nurse which was a different experience.

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  10. It’s quite remarkable all of your family was in the military and thankfully came home unscathed! Thank goodness for that cyst so your husband didn’t have to go. Sadly, others did not make it like you mention. We have been bowing our heads in prayer every night for those that didn’t make it home.
    Lovely post and song!
    ❤️

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    1. Thank you, Cindy. I have nothing but total respect for all veterans; for some it was a choice, for others they were drafted. Some ran toward the call; some ran for their lives, mostly to Canada. We consider ourselves patriotic people and we love our country. Still, if Bill had been drafted to fight in that dreadful war that was none of our concern, we would have gone to Canada. That is not meant to diminish the sacrifices made by so many; thousands upon thousands did their “duty” all the while wishing they were anywhere but there. May they rest peacefully. Wishing you a beautiful Memorial Day.

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  11. I remember back in May 2019, when I was staying with my cousins in Philadelphia, my flight home was the day before Memorial Day; we were all disappointed that I missed the special day… and my cousins also commemorated ANZAC Day a month earlier, because their mum was Australian … most of my uncles fought in WW II, one of them didn’t make it home … Lest We Forget, Nancy …

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